Printing press



Aug. 3 1926.; 1,594,800

I c. T. SPEAR PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 23, 1923 '5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES INVENTOR I I; f yfioiz/ 7.

BY fzpa. A

ATTORNEYS PRINTING PRESS 3 smaecs-s 2 Filed Nov. 1925 Aug. 3,1926. 1,594,800

c. T. SPEAR PRINTING PRESS Filed Nov. 23, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNE YS Patented Aug. 3, 1926.

UNITED STATES CLIFTON THOMAS SPEAK, OI" TEXARKANA, TEXAS.

rnmrme PRESS.

Application filed November 23, 1923. Serial No. 676,602.

This invention relates to printing presses and has for its object the provision of a simple and efficient inking ribbon mechanism movable over the type bed for the purpose of producing imitation typewritten letters in the same manneras if they were multigraphed or runthrough a writer press or any other form of machine for such special purpose.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a printing press for handling that class of work for the production of imitation typewritten letters and in which the device may form an attachment to a printing press or be embodied therein as a part of the unitary structure.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device for producing imitation typewritten letters which is more efficient and which is able to print the letters faster than may be done by a multigraph or other machine constructed for that purpose.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of means for producing imitation typewritten letters and printing the letter-head in ink as usual, all at one operation of the press, as well as sign the signature where required.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susce tible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features'of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a Chandler & Price printing press with my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view disclosing a pair of rollers for carrying the ribbon.

Figure 3 1s a view in perspective of the operating means and its appurtenances for manually actuating the rollers.

Figure 4 is a side View in elevation showing a detail of the operating mechanism which includes the reversing mechanism for moving the tape across the face of the type.

' Figure 5 is a fragmentary View in perspective of a roller carrying the tape.

Figure 6 18 a plan view of an inking roller cut away to permit movement of the typewriter ribbon.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partly in sect-ion showing a detail of the roller engaged by some operating part of the usual printing press for actuating the mechanism which operates the rollers carrying the tape. Referring more particularly to the drawings, l designates the frame of, the printing press carrying the fly wheel 2 and a Wheel 3 operated in any approved manner. An arm 4. has one end eccentrically mounted at 5 to wheel 3 and is adapted to be oscillated for shifting the roller carriage 6 whereby the inking rollers 7 are moved across the face of the type bed 8 and ultimately passed over the inking plate 9.

Carried by a frame 10 of the type bed 8 is'my improved mechanism for operating a tape 11 across the type of the bed 8. 'Mounted upon a shelf 12 which is secured upon the outwardly projecting portion of the frame 10 is a bracket 13, shown more in detail in Figure 3. This bracket comprises a base late .14, a pair of u standing ears 15 having bearings 16 at their upper ends to receive the inner end of a shaft 18. This shaft is provided with Ta squared reduced portion 19 adapted to be received Within "a squared opening 20 of a split roller 21.

The roller 21 is slotted longitudinally as shown at 22 in which is adapted to be inserted a depending flange 23 formed upon a spool 24;. This spool is formed of metal and is substantially cylindrical with the one edge overlapped upon itself and adapted to engage the mner end of the tape for clamping the end of the tape to the member 24. The flan e 23' on the s 001 24 looks said spool to t e roller 21 an causes rotation of the spool when the roller is rotated. Upon the opposite ends of the spool are rigidly secured discs 25 ada ted to engage the side edges of the, tape an guide the same on the rotating spool. In other words the spool comprises the cylindrical clamping sleeve and the discs 25.

Discs 26 are provided with a radial passage in which is adapted to be screwed a set screw 27. The said discs are further provided with. an axial passage 28 adapted to receive the roller 21 and the set screw 27 projects into the axial passage and locks the discs to the roller 21 and maintains the spool or holder 24 in any one of a lurality of adjusted positions along the rol er 21.

the shiftable plate 43.

A second bracket 13" is located upon the side of the printing press which is opposite to the bracket 13 which supports the shaft 18. This bracket is supplled with a pair of upstanding ears 15 and bearings 16 for 32. The shaft 29 is provided with a collar 33 against which one end of a coil spring 34 presses while the opposite end of the spring is in engagement with an ear 15 of the bracket 13. A collar 35 is secured to the shaft 29 by a set screw and located in engagement with the outer face of the outer ear 15. The end of the shaft has a squared portion 36 adapted to receive a squared opening in the crank handle 37. The spring 34 tends to force the actuating shaft 29 inwardly and maintain the reduced shoulders 31 of the said shaft in engagement with the cut-out portions or notches 32 of the roller 21. The

mechanism just described in conjunction with the handle 37 forms the manual means for operating the roller 21 when desired.

A roller 38 is located in spaced relation with the roller 21 below said roller and carried by the frame portion 10. The ends of the roller or shaft 38 are mounted in bearings formed in the side members of the frame 10. The central portion of said .roller is split longitudinally, as shown in Figure 2, and into which is inserted a' thin U-shaped stri of metal 39. The tape 11 is clamped in t e strip after which said strip is inserted within the slotted portion of the shaft, thereby locking the tape to said shaft. A pair of discs 40 are located on the shaft and locked in position. by means of the set screw 41 adjacent the edges of the tape and are similar in construction to the disc 26 on the shaft or roller 21. These discs receive the projecting ends of the strip 39 and lock said strip against'movement. The outer end of the shaft 38 -projects beyond the frame 10 and through an elongated slot 42 in a reciprocating plate 43. A second slot 44 is formed at the upper end of the late 43 and through which the end of the s aft 18 projects, the shaft being connected as shown in Figure 5 to the roller or shaft 21. The operating mechanism for causing rotation of the upper roller 21 and of the lower roller 38 1n one direction and for causing automatic reversing and the succeeding operation of the rollers after the reversal, is carried by The plate isprovided with laterally projecting cars 45 and 46 adjacent the central portion of the plate and these ears are perforated to receive the ends of coil springs 47. The upper end of the coil springs are provided with eyes and engage around pins 48 on theframe sectlon 10.

A pin 49 is threaded on its reduced inner end and locked to the plate 43 by means of a nut 50. The reduction of the inner end of the pin forms a-shoulder which engages the outer face of the plate and in cooperation with the nut 50 forms the means for rigidly locking the pin in position on the plate. A plurality of perforations 51 are formed in the plate for receiving the pin for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A roller 52 is mounted on the pin and adapted to be engaged by the roller arm 6 carrying the rollers 7 whereby reciprocation of said arm and its successive engagements with the roller 49 causes reciprocation of the plate 43. A shaft 58 has mounted upon its outer end a toothed wheel 53, and shaft 18 likewise has a toothed wheel 54 mounted up on the end of that portion of the shaft which projects beyond the plate 43.

A rocker in'the form of a plate 55 is pivot-- ally mounted at'56 on the plate 43in alinement with the ears 45 and 46. An arm 57 is pivoted at58 on the rocker plate 55 and extends downwardly and'is provided with a pawl 59 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 53 at certain times. A bracket 60 embraces the lower end of the arm 57 and guides the arm in its movement. A second actuating arm 61 is pivotally mounted at 62 on the rocker plate 55 and is provided with a pawl 63 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54. A guide 64 engages the outer end of the arms 61 and aids in maintaining the outer end of the arm in a position to be engaged by the teeth of the wheel 54.

A pawl 65 is pivotally mounted at one end on the plate 43 and is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 and prevent rotation of the Wheel in one direction. A second pawl 66 located adjacent the ratchet wheel 53 isadapted to engage the teeth of the wheel and prevent rotation of the wheel in one direction. A coil spring 67 maintains the pawl in engagement with the wheel 53, and spring 68 maintains pawl 65 in engagement with wheel 54.

An oscillating bar 69 isslidably mounted in a plurality of guides 70 cut from the face of the plate 43 and is adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally of the plate and adjacent one edge in order to force a toe 71 formed at the upper end of the rod into ongagement with the pawl 65 and cause said pawl to be released from the ratchet wheel 54." The reciprocation of the bar 69 in theopposite direction will cause thetoe 7:2 on

4. The bar is oscillated through the rock plate 55 which has a pin 73 projected outwardly from the outer end of the plate and received within a pocket 74 formed on the oscillating bar 69.

The plate 55 1s provlded with an arcuately shaped slot 75 and in which is positioned a projection 76 extending into said slot. A

pin 77 having its opposite ends flanged and located within the slot 75 is connected to one end of a coil spring 78, the other end of the coil spring is connected to the plate 43 at the rear end of a slot 79. which is formed in the plate and in which the spring 7 8is seated. As the plate is'rocked to and fro, the pin 77 wilhri'd'e within theislot and be seated in one of the opposite ends of said slot at the limit of movement of the rocker plate 55. A pin 80 mounted on the side of the frame 10 is adapted to engage the ear 46 and limit the upward movement of the plate. A coil spring 81 has one end connected to the plate 55 and its other end connected to the rod 57. A coil spring 82 has one end connected to the rocker plate 55 and its other end to actuating rod 61. The rocker plate 55 is provided with a radial slot 83 in which is mounted a coil spring 84 having one end connected at 85 to the rocker plate 55 and its other end to a block 86 which is slidable within a slot "87 in the plate 55. p

The late 55 is. provided with a second radial s at 88 in which is mounted a spring 89. One end of the spring is connected to the plate 55 adjacent one end of the slot 88 and has its other end connected to a block 90 slidable within a slot 91 formed in the plate 55. A platen 92 is mounted for operation for carrying the sheets of paper 93 into engagement with-the type bed for printing said pa er.

The bloc s 86 and 90 respectively permit either of the pawls 63 and 59 to remain in engagement with their associated ratchet wheels when in the act of actuating the reversing mechanism or rather rocking the plate 55 and to cause disengagement of the pawl and maintaining the pawls out of engagement immediately upon completion of the reversal of the operatin mechanism.

The ribbon 11 is carried eneath a "shaft 94 carried by the pairs of ears 95 located upon the brackets 13 and 13. A roller 96 is mounted on the shaft adapted to be engaged by the tape and which is revolved during the lineal movement of the tape. Another shaft 97 provided with a roller'98 is mounted above the type bed 10. The tape is carried over the type of the type bed and then over a roller 99 .carried by a shaft 100 which has its opposite ends mounted in the frame 10.

Fountain rollers 101 are located in the usual manner above the inking disc 9 and for a purpose which is well known. The

' body of the letter and over which the ribbon 11 is carried. Upon the opposite sides of the ribbon of that portion of the type bed" which gives the impression when printed of a typewpitten letter, is located a composition roller 103 which forms the letter-head roller while roller 104 forms the signature roller. Since the letter-head is substantially uniform in various types of letters, the roller 103 may be locked in position on the core 102 by the dogs 105 and be normally maintained in this position, while the roller 104 is slidable on the core. The signature roller comprises an outer tube 106 upon which the composition roller is formed and an inner roller 10'? which is locked in position onthe core by means of a set screw 108. The outer end of the inner tube 107 is flanged as shown at 109 and engages the adjacent outer end of the outer tube 106 and maintains the tube in position when the inner tube is locked to the core by means of the set screw.

The roller 104 is adjustable along the core 102 and may be so adjusted when desired for moving the. signature type nearer to the letter-head type where the bod of the letter is of a shorter length. A rolher hearing 110 is locked to the end of the core 102 by means of dogs 111, and these roller bearings are supported by means of tracks 112 located upon opposite sides of the 'inking disc 9.

The operation of my device is as follows: The spool 24 is supplied with the ribbon and carrying the main body of the roll of the ribbon while the shaft 38 will have secured to it the other end of the tape. This tape is drawn over the type bed 10 when the device is in operation. When the power press is in operation and the roller arm 6 is being oscillated through the connecting rod 4, it will periodically engage the roller 52 on the pin 49 and cause the late 43 to be shifted downwardly while t e springs 47 return the tion. Eac time the plate 43 is shifted downwardly the arm 61 is drawn downwardly and since the pawl 63 is in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54 the shaft 18 will be rotatedin the direction indicated by the arrow as will be the roller'21, thereby causing the tape to be wound upon the spool 24 and be successively drawn across the face of the type bed 10. Figure 4 shows the spool 24 after themechanism has been automatically reversed.

When all the tape has been wound upon will exert a pull on the roller 21 in the 1plate to its normal upward peel the tape being rewound upon direction which is opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Flgure 4. The ratchet wheel 54 will then remain motionless causing the pawl arm 61 to hold rocker plate 55 while the reciprocating -plate 43 with cam roller 77 is drawn downwardly until the roller rests in the lower end of the slot 75. \Vhen plate 43 is returned the pawl arm 61 is reciprocated upwardly and plate 55 is rocked causing the bar 69 to be moved upwardly and engage the pawl 65 and force it out of .engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 54. This permits the spring 67 to return the pawl 66 in engaging relation with the ratchetwheel 63. The block 86 during the upward rocking movement of member 55 engages arm 61 and moves the same downwardly releasing the pawl 63 from ratchet 54. The spring 81 which is connected with the arm 57 as shown in Figure 4 is placed under tension as the'plate 55 is rocked while spring 82 is released and block 90 is moved away from pawl arm 57 while block 86 is acting upon arm 61.

The pin 77 is not only movable in the arcuately shaped slot in the rocker plate 55 but also in the transverse slot79 formed in the plate 43 so that the pin is permitted to move transversely of the plate 43 in the slot 79 while the pin also is seated in the opposite end of the slot 75 as the plate 55 is rocked. The transverse movement of the pin in the slot 79 is caused by the projection 76 which extends into the arcuately shaped slot 75 and thereby causing a slight transverse movement of the pin.

The spring 82, upon the upward movement of the plate 55, throws the upper end of the arm 61 outwardly and pawl 63 out of engagement with the teeth 54 so that the shaft 18 and likewise the roller 21 idles in playing out the tape while the shaft 38 is positively actuated upon each. reciprocation of the plate 43.

A perforation 113 is formed in the bottom of the plate 43 and is adapted to aline with the perforation in the side of the press when the reversing mechanism is in its extreme downward position and a pin is adapted to be inserted through the alined perforations for. locking the plate 43 against actuation when it is desired to operate the printing press without the tape operating mechanism. At this time the tape 1L maybe removed from its connection with the shaft 38 and by the use of the detachable crank 37 wound upon spool 21 and removed from the press.

What I claim is: p

1. In a printing press, the combination of a stationary press frame, an ink ribbon, a pair of shafts mounted in spaced relation upon the press frame and provided with means for securing the opposite ends of the ribbon to said shafts, a plate adapted to be reciprocated by a moving part of the press and slidably mounted upon one side of the frame, resilient means for maintaining the plate in normal position, said plate being provided with slots at its opposite ends through which the ends of the shafts project, ratchet wheels on the projected ends of the shafts, a rockable member pivotally mounted on the plate intermediate its ends, armspivotally connected with the free end of the rockable member and provided with pawls adapted to engage the ratchet wheels for alternately actuating said wheels, means engageable with each of the ratchet wheels for preventing rotation of said wheels in one direction, a bar slidably mounted en the plate and having a connection with the rockable member and adapted to beoscillated in one direction when a strain is placed upon the ribbon, for causing alternate disengagement of either of the means for preventing rotation of the ratchet wheel, and a spring means for maintaining the rockable member in its limit of rocking movement in either direction.

2. In a printing press, the combination with a stationary frame, an ink ribbon, a pair of shafts mounted in spaced relation upon the press frame and provided with means for securing the opposite ends of the ribbon to said shaft, a plate slidably mounted on the frame and adapted to be reciprocated by a moving part of the press, said plate being provided with slots adjacent the ends of the shafts through which the shafts project, ratchet wheels secured to the projecting ends of the shafts, pawls to prevent rotation of' the shafts in one direction, resilient means for maintaining the plate in normal elevated position, a rock plate pivotally mounted on the reciprocating plate and provided with an arcuate'slot at its free end, a pin mounted for movement in said slot, "a spring connected with the pivotal point of the plate at one end and at its other end with the pin, means connected with the free end of the plate and extending in opposite directions adapted to engage the ratchet wheel for causing rotation of one of the wheels when the plate is rotated, means slidably mounted on the plate and connected with the rockable plate for releasing oneof thefawls from the ratchet wheel, spring means or returning the pawls in en gaging relation with the wheels, said rocking plate adapted to, be oscillated when a strain is placed on the ribbon whereby the shifting means of the pawls is operated for disengaging one pawl and permitting the other pawl to be moved into operative relation with the ratchet wheel.

3. In a printing press, a stationary press frame, an ink ribbon, a pair of shafts mounted in spaced relation upon the press frame, means operated by the moving part of the printing press for causing step-by-step re"- other shaft being provided with a longitudinal slot, a U-shapcd clamping member secured to one end of the ribbon and projecting laterally from the side edges of said ribbon and adapted to be inserted withinthe longitudinal slot in the shaft, discs slidable on the shaft and adapted to be moved adjacent the side edges of the ribbon and receive the ends of the clamping member for locking saidclamping member against longitudinal movement on the shaft.

at. In a printing press, a stationary press frame, a pair of spools, an ink ribbon having an end connected to a spool, means for positively actuating one of the spools and' comprising a reciprocating plate, means rockably mounted on said plate. a ratchet connectedto each spool, a pair of arms pivotally connected with the rockable means, each arm provided with a pawl adapted to enga e aratchet, strain on the .ribbon causing the pawl arm having its pawl engaged with the ratchet to rock the rockable means whereby the other pawl arm is moved to cause the pawl connected thereto to engage its respective ratchet while the other pawl arm is moved to release its pawl from the respectively engaged ratchet, blocks slidably carried by the rockable means, a spring for -1naintaining each block in a predetermined position for engaging a pivotally mounted arm, a block being adapted to engagea pivotally mounted arm when the rockable means is moved to a predetermined position for moving an arm so that the pawl provided on the arm is forced out of engagement with its respective ratchet.

5. In a printing press, a stationary press frame, a pair of spools, an ink ribbon havmg an end connected to a spool, means for positively actuating one of the spools and comprising a reciprocating plate, means rockably mounted on said plate, a ratchet connected to each spool, a pair of arms pivotally connected with the rockable means, each arm provided with a pawl adapted to engage a ratchet, a strain on the ribbon causing the pawl arm having its pawl engagedwith the ratchet to rock the rockable means whereby the other pawl arm is moved to cause the pawl connected thereto to .engage its respective ratchet while the other pawl arm is moved to release its pawl from the respectively engaged ratchet, means carried by the rockable means for engaging the pawl arm for alternately oscillating the pawl arm to an inoperative position. I

6. In a printing press, a'stationary press frame, a pair of spools, an ink ribbon having an end connected-to a spool, means for positively actuating one of the spools and comprising a reciprocating plate, means rockably mounted on said plate. .a ratchet connected to each spool, 21 pair of arms pivotally connected with the rockable means,

each arm provided with a pawl adapted to' engage a ratchet, strain on the ribbon cansing the pawl arm having its pawl engaged with the ratchet to rock the rockable means whereby the other p'a-wl arm is moved to.

cause the pawl connected thereto to engage its respective ratchet while the other pawl arm is moved to release its pawl from the respectively engaged ratchet, means carried by the rockable means for engaging the pawl arm for alternately oscillating the pawl arm to an inoperative positon, means cooperating with the pawl arm for aiding in rocking the rockable means, a second pawl engageable with each ratchet for preventing movement of the ratchets in one direction, and means carried by the plate and shifted by the rockable means for alternately disengaging the second mentioned pawl from the ratchet wheels. a

7. In a printing press, a stationary press frame, a pair of spools, an ink ribbon having an end connected to a spool, means for positively actuating one of the spools and comprising a reciprocating plate, means rockably mounted on said plate, a ratchet connected to each spool. a pair-of arms pivotally connected with the rockable means, each arm provided with a pawl adapted to engage a ratchet, strain on the'ribbon causing the pawl arm having its pawl engaged with the ratchet to rock the rock-able means whereby the other pawl arm is moved to cause the pawl connected thereto to engage its respective ratchet while the other pawl arm is moved to release its pawl from the respectively engaged ratchet, means carried" by the rockable means for engaging the pawl arm for alternatelyoscillating the pawl arm to an inoperative position, means cooperating with the pawl arm,for aiding in rock ing the rockable means, a second pawl en-- CLIFTON THOMAS SPEAK. 

